inquiring reporter Horseshoe Bay Dundarave/A mbleside British Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/De!brook Highlands Lower Lonsdale Central and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Valley Blueridge/Deep Cove TOTAL 20.0... sscssescessteneesncenceseseasenee 63% THERE have been two home invasions on the North Shore that we know of in the last two years. In both cases the suspects have been apprehended and are in custody awaiting trial. This may be of smal! comfort to the victims, Police say some seniors never recover from the trauma of being held hostage in their own home. But there is no need to live in fear. Separate the num- bers of actual incidents from the number of media sto- ries. Be proactive in your defence. Action reduces fear. Consult with police and security firms about protect- ing yourself in your residence. Lighting, locks, window treatments and alarms are useful. But one of the best things you can do is get involved in the Block Watch program. Neighbours looking out for neighbours make a difference. You could also consider lobbying your MP regarding court sentencing of offenders. The Criminal Code already allows for life imprisonment for “every one who breaks and enters a place with intent to commit (or commits) an indictable offence therein.” Is it time such a deterrent was used? NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS YES NO 60% 40% 55% 43% 69% 29% 10% 27% 67% 32% 54% 4d% 60% 35% 67% 30% 68% 32% 35% NO OPINION O%. 0% 2% DON’T KNOW 0% 2% 0% Giselle Fenwick North Vancouver Perhaps PE should say yes — my husband's in the security business. But se far so good. We've never haw any trouble Julie Welch North Vancouver I chink about it bur I den'e worry about it. PE have an alrm system and ny house is protected. Everybody needs Grace Bellamy Nerth Vancouver t do, ves. You read so much about it in the papers and it scares you. ['m older and I domt think [ could fight 0% 3% 1% 0% 0% 2% O%. 5%. 1.5% 1.5% 0% 0% 1% 1% in ours area. ever been stolen trom us, Nothing has to be in this day and age. anyone else off. But our Rouse is fairly secure. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? E-mail your comments or question ideas to: martin@nsnews.com NV C _Liam Lahey Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver City council stalled on passing its cat regula- tion bylaw Monday. Council voted instead to wait and sec what Coquitlam will do with its bylaw first. Modelled after Coquitlam’s, North Varicouver’s —hylaw would be the first of its kind on the North Shore. By implementing a bylaw that requires mandatory spay- ing and neutering of all cats in the city, and identification for ewned cats, council hopes to reduce the growing number of feral felines in the city. Council also chose to make amendments to the bylaw, including attaching a higher fee and a business licence requirement for breeders. The decision was based on the input council received from two scparate delegations — Judith Stone of the Animal Advocates Society of B.C. and Brian Nelson of the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). “ “With the ado,tion of bylaws in = Surcey and Coquitlam, there’s been a bandwagon effect and most Lower Mainland comnunities are considering adopting cat contro} bylaws,” Stone told council. “People finding stray cats in North Vancouver ... now inay have to turn the cat over to the SPCA. We wish there was no mention (in the bylaw) of possible forced impoundment of cats.” Stone also told council the current $35 breeding permit is not adequate, “The $35 breeding permit is so little that it’s an invitation to breed kittens in sheds, basements, and garages by the hundreds by the kind of person who will cash in on the fact that almost everyone may be sterilizing their cat," she said. “We're 9 (the Animal Advocates Society) suggesting two types of breeding licences, a casual breeding licence and a for-profic breeding ticence to control the brutal abuses by many full time cat breeders.” From 1996 to 1998 the North Shore SPCA received a total of 2,372 unwanted cats. Of these, 240 were cutha- nized for no other reason other than being a surplus ro the community. An additional msi 414 felines were put to sleep during the same period at the request of their owners, The SPCA’s Nelson told council they have the full support of his organization. “The SPCA is in fill sup- port of this bylaw, it is mod- eHed after the Coquitlam bylaw,” Nelson said. “We do have a vested interest (in the bylaw) ) you could say, after all we're the only agency respon- sible in the Lower Mainland for cuthanizing stray animals .. the SPCA euthanized 7,000 cats last year, i00 of which were in North Vancouver.” When Coun. Barbara Sharp asked Netson’s opinion on whether or nota higher fee Ex